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If you’re obsessed with homemade donuts like me, then you are going to drool over this roundup! I have over 90 homemade donut recipes to make at home, from fried to baked, chocolate, even healthy donuts!
I have to admit I love me a good donut. Growing up there was a cute little donut shop on our Main Street and every weekend we go down and get a dozen of their fresh, hot doughnuts to take home.
My mom and I loved sharing a Long John (basically a giant eclair), or maybe an Angel donut (powdered sugar donut filled with sweet vanilla icing), a coconut cake doughnut, chocolate glazed, or just the most perfect glazed donut you can imagine.
You could tell these were fresh. Homemade. Made with love. Oh how I miss that little bakery. So now that I’m older, and I don’t live at home, and sadly that bakery is no longer there I’ve learned to make all my favorites at home. So I thought why not round up all the delicious donut recipes for you so you can get your fingers sticky too.
What’s The Difference Between A Cake Donut And A Yeast Donut?
Both are donuts..ok you knew that. But donuts are fried, however it’s what the recipe calls for as far as leavening agents. The cake donut is leavened, aka gets its rise, from baking powder and/or soda. A cake donut tends to be a bit heavier, denser and more cake-like than it’s yeast donut cousin.
A yeast donut, as the name implies, relies on yeast to make it rise. These take a bit longer to make, however they yield a lighter fluffier donut in the end.
Who invented donuts?
Let’s all kiss the feet of Mr. Hanson Gregory! His genius creation came from his time aboard a lime trading ship. The original “donut” would come out raw in the middle and all twisted after frying.
His solution? Cut the middle out! And just like that, the donut was born. Thank you Mr. Gregory, thank you.
Is it donuts or doughnuts?
The proper word for this fried pastry creation is doughnuts. But then where did the word “donuts” come from? We can thank Dunkin Donuts for that one!
And now since I live in the Boston area…I definitely call them donuts. What kind of New Englander would I be if I didn’t?!
Fried Donuts
Old Fashioned Sour Cream Donuts
These old-fashioned sour cream donuts are fried cake donut perfection. A sour cream cake donut batter is fried, then dipped in a vanilla donut glaze. I have all the tips and tricks for you to fry up donuts at home!
Nothing beats donuts. And nothing beats homemade yeast donuts rolled in sugar. These sugar donuts are easy when you follow my step by step photos to make perfect donuts at home!
These glazed donuts are absolute perfection! Just like from your local donut shop…but way better since they are homemade. The donuts are made from a yeasted dough, made with a hint of vanilla, fried, and then dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze.
These chocolate frosted donuts are pillowy and lights, and topped with an easy to whip up rich, dark chocolate glaze. These donuts are made from scratch, fried to perfection, and dipped in chocolate for a perfect breakfast treat.
Zeppole – Italian doughnuts (with air fryer option)
Filled with sweet black raisins and dusted with powdered sugar, this classic Zeppole recipe, also known as Italian bite-sized doughnuts, is a simple fried (or air fried) dessert or special morning treat that everyone will love!
Homemade French Crullers are one of the easiest and most delicious kinds of doughnut you can make. Start to finish, they take about an hour to make and requires only a small handful of ingredients – milk, butter, sugar, salt, eggs, and flour. They are simple enough for a lazy Sunday morning breakfast but pretty enough for a special occasion brunch.
Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze {Overnight Yeast Raised Recipe}
These are the kind of apple fritters you'd get at the very best kind of doughnut shop – soft yeast raised dough with a hint of nutmeg and orange, buttery cinnamon coated apples, and crackly maple glaze. This recipe includes instructions for letting the apple fritters rise overnight so you can fry them up in the morning and enjoy them at their best – warm, fresh, and dripping with maple glaze.
A soft dough with a touch of one of my favorite Fall flavors, cinnamon, and then rolled while still warm in a cinnamon sugar combination. The perfect anytime Donut.
Learn how to make the best Mochi donuts with this easy mochi donut recipe. These Japanese donuts are tender and sweet and have an incredible mochi-like texture. The perfect dessert for any occasion!
These pumpkin donuts are baked, made with wonderful warm spices, and rolled in cinnamon sugar after baking. And since they are baked and not fried, they come together in about 30 minutes!
Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze. A baked red velvet donut with tangy cream cheese glaze that is a cinch to make and ready in under 30 minutes!
Cake Mix Donuts are super easy to make and a fun dessert for summer when you make them as S’mores Donuts! Let the kids get in the kitchen with this fun summer treat.
Ube donuts are soft and tender, packed with ube flavour, and baked not fried. Quick and easy to make with 3 different toppings for a delicious ube treat.
Treat yourself with these easy carrot cake donuts! With plenty of shredded carrot, juicy pineapple and an icing sugar glaze generously sprinkled with nuts, this baked donut recipe is sure to be a favorite!
These funfetti donuts comprise baked vanilla donuts loaded with sprinkles and then dipped in a vanilla glaze and topped with more sprinkles.I mean who doesn't love sprinkles? They're festive looking and taste great!
These baked donuts are soft and fluffy cake donuts coated in chocolate frosting then topped with festive sprinkles. A fun and easy treat that’s perfect for any breakfast or brunch gathering!
These easy baked baked sweet potato doughnuts are every bit as tasty as they are easy to make (spoiler alert: They only take 20 minute start to finish).
These blueberry donuts are baked, with lemon zest, and finished in an easy 3-ingredient lemon glaze. And since they are baked and not fried, they come together in 30 minutes or less!
Fresh and fruity. Light and zingy. Fluffy and delicious. These baked lemon poppy seed donuts are all that and more. Naturally sweetened with honey, they are bright and full of lemon flavor. Topped with a honey lemon glaze, these dairy-free baked donuts are a fantastic healthy-ish sweet treat to share this spring.
Peach Crisp Whole Wheat Donuts are a delicious summer breakfast or snack option. Made with whole wheat flour and topped with a healthy peach crumble, these healthy baked donuts will become an instant favorite!
These quick, Glazed Blueberry Donuts are fluffy baked vanilla cake donuts packed with blueberries and topped with your choice of colored blueberry glaze! They're so easy to make with a donut pan and the perfect weekend breakfast treat.
These Strawberry Cake Donuts are a sweet treat anyone can make at home regardless of your skill level. All you need is some fresh strawberries and a donut mold pan!
Delicious baked chocolate donuts with a chocolate glaze are a perfect treat for breakfast or dessert. These baked donuts have a rich chocolate taste and a cake like texture.
A recipe for Olive Oil Doughnuts with Dark Chocolate Glaze! These easy baked doughnuts have a wonderful contrast of sweet and salty with a rich dark chocolate glaze and sprinkling of sea salt.
Chocolate Baked Guinness Donut Recipe with Baileys Glaze
The perfect breakfast for St. Patrick's Day. Make a batch of these Guinness Chocolate Baked Donut Recipe with Baileys Glaze to start your day off right.
These Milky Way Doughnuts are baked chocolate doughnuts topped with homemade caramel sauce and Milky Way pieces. They're easy to make and heavenly to eat!
Fresh Air Fryer Donuts with Chocolate Glaze topped with rainbow sprinkles. This Chocolate Glazed Donut recipe is so fun and super quick and easy to make!
The vegan air fryer donuts are so easy to make and so tasty! They contain mostly healthy ingredients and are the perfect breakfast without excessive fat.
Air Fryer Toasted Coconut Lime Donuts are made with canned biscuits and a quick coconut lime glaze. Top them with toasted coconut and you have a quick and easy breakfast or treat.
Baked Apple Cider Donuts (Oil-Free, Vegan) ~ Veggie Inspired
Soft, fluffy, moist Baked Apple Cider Donuts with all the flavors of fall. So easy to make – ready in just about 20 minutes!! Plus, they’re dairy free, egg free, and oil free!
Vegan Chocolate Donuts with Fresh Strawberry Glaze
These easy vegan chocolate donuts are soft and rich and dipped in a sweet pink glaze made with fresh strawberries. They’re gluten free and oil free and take less than 30 minutes to make!
These chocolate baked donuts make for such an easy and delicious treat! Made with wholesome ingredients, they’re a healthier way to get your donut fix!
These easy-to-make, Gluten-Free Keto Pumpkin Donuts are ultra-moist and tender, and topped with a delicious maple-pecan glaze that you just can't resist!
Protein Donuts are an easy, high protein treat. Made with simple ingredients, they’re gluten and dairy free while being totally delicious! Use vegan or whey protein.
The minute you sink your teeth into one of these mouth-watering Paleo donuts you’ll be in absolute heaven. No need to worry about the hassle of frying; these tender almond flour donuts are baked, and utterly irresistible.
These gluten free and refined sugar free donuts are delicious and incredibly quick and easy to make! With endless topping options, there will be a favorite for everyone!
Looking for a low carb, gluten free donut? Try these glazed keto donuts. They have the texture of a cake donut and are covered in a sugar free vanilla glaze.
Learn how to make protein donuts that taste like the real thing! This healthy protein donut recipe is moist, cakey, and chewy, but also low carb and gluten-free.
This low carb donuts recipe with almond flour is easy to make. These keto donuts taste just like regular sugar coated ones, with options for paleo donuts, too!
These gluten-free chocolate sprinkle donuts are baked in the oven, not fried for a quick and easy brunch recipe. These donuts are also dairy free and vegan too!
Gluten Free Cookies and Cream Donuts are a baked chocolate donut with cream cheese icing and topped with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies. They’re super easy to make and there’s even a dairy free option!
The best seasonal donuts, baked right at home! These easy Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts are vegan, allergy-free, coated in cinnamon "sugar" but made without oil or refined sugar!
A simple, sweet, baked grain-free donut recipe! These Maple Blueberry Powdered Sugar Doughnuts are gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and top 8 allergy-free! A healthy and delicious breakfast or even a dessert that you can feel good about eating!
Baked, not fried, these moist and delicious Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Doughnuts are just what you need with your morning cup o' joe! Vegan and allergy-free, these donuts bake up in just 10 minutes! With a buttery crumb topping of sweet cinnamon streusel and simple vanilla glaze, they're a perfect breakfast treat or delectable dessert!
A mini donut recipe that will have all others paling in comparison! These baked pumpkin mini donuts are moist and chewy with a nice crunchy pumpkin spice coating. Delicious!
Want to make your own homemade copycat Hostess Donettes? This recipe for Gluten-Free Baked Mini Powdered Doughnuts is just the thing! These donuts are sugar-free, grain-free, paleo, vegan, allergy-free, and only require 8 ingredients to make! A healthy dessert or snack perfect for little hands or your own nostalgic indulgence!
These Gluten-Free Chocolate-Covered Mini Doughnuts are baked and dipped in rich, dairy-free dark chocolate! They're vegan, allergy-free, so quick and easy to make! Only 7 ingredients needed for this fun, kid-friendly donut dessert and nostalgic copycat recipe of Hostess chocolate frosted Donettes!
These fluffy, homemade, Lemon Filled Donuts are fried to perfection, filled with thick, tart lemon curd and topped with a smooth vanilla meringue. They can also be made into a pop-able mini version. It's lemon meringue pie in a donut!
These Italian Donuts better known as a Bomboloni are made with a soft yeast dough, fried, rolled in sugar then filled with your favourite pastry cream filling. Served for breakfast and snack or just about anytime you want.
The best thing about these 4 Ingredient Nutella Filled Donuts recipe is that you only need 4 ingredients: Biscuits, Powdered sugar, Nutella, and oil for frying. They’re SO easy to make and taste better than any store-bought donuts out there!
This Jewish treat, also known as a jelly donut, is a real treat any time of year but especially around Hannukah! Fun to make and completely vegan, these donuts totally belong in your kitchen!
Deep-fried with a crisp exterior and fluffy, chewy interior, Pączki are mind-blowingly delicious yeasted Polish donuts with a fruit or custard filling.
Fried Bismarck Donuts with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling
Fried Bismarck Donuts with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling are the perfect fall breakfast! The filling is so heavenly and the donuts are so tasty with the sugar and pumpkin pie spice topping!
Cake mix donuts with frosted circus animal cookies inside, it doesn’t get more fun than this! With just 5 simple ingredients you can have these tasty cake donuts ready to go for breakfast or a birthday party in under 20 minutes!
Homemade donuts are so easy to make and these Robin’s Egg Vanilla Baked Donuts are a favorite sweet treat! They make any day feel like spring and are great for Easter brunch or Mother’s Day too.
These rainbow donuts are super cheerful and tasty, and surprisingly simple to make in less than 30 minutes. Plus, it’s easy to customize this recipe with nearly any color and flavor combinations you like!
Don’t forget to read this post –> How To Make Donuts that will give you all the step by step how-to’s, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting you need to make perfect donuts at home.
Baked Chocolate Donuts
These baked chocolate donuts are the perfect treat to satisfy your chocolate donut cravings- rich cocoa goodness, a touch of vanilla, and a rich chocolate glaze. These donuts are baked in a donut pan – so no frying required!
⅓cup(23 g) dark cocoa powder (Dutch processed, not natural/unsweetened)
¾cups(90 g) All-Purpose Flourspooned and leveled
½cup(100 g) granulated sugar
¼teaspoonbaking soda
¼teaspoonbaking powder
1/4teaspoonfine sea salt
1large eggsroom temperature
¼cup(60 ml) buttermilkroom temperature
½teaspoonVanilla Extract
¼cup(60 ml) unsalted buttermelted and slightly cooled
¼cupmini chocolate chipsoptional
Chocolate icing
1/2cup(85 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4cup(60 ml) heavy cream
2teaspoonscorn syrupoptional
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Position rack in center of oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease two non stick donut pans.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. ⅓ cup (23 g) dark cocoa powder (Dutch processed, not natural/unsweetened)¾ cups (90 g) All-Purpose Flour½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar¼ teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and melted butter. 1 large eggs¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon just until the last of the flour is combined. Fold in chocolate chips if using. ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan(s), filling the wells about half full. Do not overfill. Or use a piping bag and pipe the batter easily into the donut pans.
Bake the doughnuts for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tops should Spring back when touched.
Remove the doughnuts from the oven and let rest in the pan for 1 minute then loosened edges (do not let rest too long or they will stick). Turn the pan upside down over a rack, and give the pan a gentle tap and shake to release the donuts. If one or two donuts stick, use the spatula or knife to loosen them further.
To make the icing: Heat heavy cream and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Let sit for 2 minutes. Do not stir during this time. Then whisk smooth. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Whisk until combined. 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream1/2 cup (85 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips2 teaspoons corn syrup1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dip the top of each doughnut in the icing, spreading to coat; or simply spread icing on the doughnuts. Garnish with sprinkles if desired.
Notes
Storage: Store doughnuts, loosely covered, at room temperature for a couple of days; freeze for longer storage. I find them best the day of, but will still be enjoyable a few days later as long as they are stored properly. You can wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then place them all in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature unwrapped before enjoying. They will thaw quickly!
Milk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand make your own. Combine 1/4 cup regular milk with a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes until thick and curdled looking.
Gluten Free: Use a gluten free flour blend. I like GF Jules flour, but another brand will work fine. Make sure to use gluten free baking powder and gluten free vanilla extract.
Dairy Free: Use a dairy free butter. I like Myokos vegan butter in the batter or swap with an oil (like melted coconut oil or neutral oil such as vegetable, canola- I like avocado oil). Make a dairy free buttermilk by combining a plant-based milk (I like almond milk or oat milk) with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar. And for the icing you can swap the heavy cream with coconut cream.
Lactose Free: Use a lactose free butter (I like Green Valley). Or you can use an oil (like melted coconut oil or neutral oil such as vegetable, canola- I like avocado oil). You can make a homemade buttermilk using Lactaid milk or a plant-based milk by 1/4 cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar.
Vegan: I haven’t tested these with an replacement but you can experiment with a flax egg. Combine 1 Tbs. flaxseed meal with 2 1/2 Tbs. water and let sit for 5 minutes before using. Use a dairy free butter. I like Myokos vegan butter, or use an oil instead. Make a dairy free buttermilk by combining a plant-based milk (I like almond milk or oat milk) with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar. And for the icing you can swap the heavy cream with coconut cream.
Egg Free: I haven’t tested these with an replacement for eggs but you can experiment with a flax egg. Combine 1 Tbs. flaxseed meal with 2 1/2 Tbs. water and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
Pan: If you don’t have a donut pan you can bake these in a muffin pan and make “donut chocolate muffins” instead. They make take a little longer to bake.
I love all of these recipes!! I recently made the Cinnamon Roll Donuts for brunch for my family, and they were a huge hit! Packed with cinnamon flavor, perfectly sweet – so delicious!
I would rather make these donuts than buy them from the donut shop! Love a good donut that’s more healthier and I know what I’m putting in. Especially having chocolate in them is totally worth making.
I love all of these recipes!! I recently made the Cinnamon Roll Donuts for brunch for my family, and they were a huge hit! Packed with cinnamon flavor, perfectly sweet – so delicious!
Great, I am so happy that you and your family enjoyed them, Anjali! Thank you!
I would rather make these donuts than buy them from the donut shop! Love a good donut that’s more healthier and I know what I’m putting in. Especially having chocolate in them is totally worth making.
Agreed, Janie, thanks so much!
Omg I cant wait to try every single one of these donuts! Yummy!!!
Thanks, Paula!
Obsessed with this roundup post! Our family loves donuts and I love that you shared so many recipes. Now, which one to choose first 🙂
Thank you, Angela, happy baking!